In this episode of That Podcast in Hutch, we try to shed a little light on an issue that touches a lot of people in Hutchinson and the surrounding area - the impasse between the Hutchinson Clinic and Blue Cross and Blue Shield insurance.

I sat down with Julie Schott, medical reimbursement specialist for the Hutchinson Clinic. She walked me through the issue from the perspective of Hutchinson Clinic and the medical providers who deliver care in our community.

I know this has been a contentious issue in the community. Some people put more blame on the Clinic, and some place more blame on BCBS. I’ve been pretty clear in my previous statements on this that I think there’s blame to go around. I think we have a system problem in health care, and until we decide we’re ready to address that in a meaningful way, we’re likely to continue to have issues like this current strife between an insurance provider and medical providers.

I believe in giving everyone a chance to say their truth - and for this episode I gave an opportunity for the Hutchinson Clinic to clear the air a bit and try to set the record straight on some of its concerns about their relationship with BCBS. I have extended the same opportunity to BCBS, and I hope they’ll take me up on the offer. As I’ve always said, what I ultimately want is for the residents of Hutchinson and the surrounding area to have a viable healthcare system that will address their needs.

I hope you’ll find this episode informative and insightful. I’m glad the Hutchinson Clinic was willing to sit down with me and tell their side of the story. And I hope you learn a little more about an issue that touches so many of us in this area.

It’s hard to think about every question you might want to ask, or to think about every potential issue on the fly. If you have questions that I’ve missed, send them to me at [email protected]. Julie has assured me that she’s willing to answer any follow up questions, and I’m more than happy to sent them to her and report back to you.